Luggage for carrying apparel without folding



y 1, 1953 E. R. DALLAS 2,841,257

LUGGAGE F OR CARRYING APPAREL WITHOUT FOLDING Filed Aug. 22, 1956 MP p;-1

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2,841,257 Patented July 1, 1958 Fice LUGGAGE FOR CARRYlNG APPARELWITHOUT FGLDWG Edgar Roy Dallas, Detroit, Mich.

Application August 22, 1956, Serial No. 605,547

3 Claims. (Ci. 190-41) This invention relates to luggage, and moreparticularly to hand or personal luggage for carrying suits, dresses andsimilar items.

The problems involved in transporting garments such as suits, coats anddresses in hand baggage without wrinkling or creasing are known to everytraveler. Conventional types of personal baggage, such as trunks andvalises, even though sufficient to accommodate the bulk of such articlesof apparel, require that each item be folded at least once in order tofit within the outside dimensions of the container. As a result of thisfolding and the subsequent compression of the clothes, journeys of evena few hours normally result in wrinkled or misshapen garments whichrequire repressing. In recent years several types of personal baggagehave been commercialized in which the suits or dresses are placed in thecontainer in unfolded condition. However, these types 'of baggage haveall been found to have features which make them unsatisfactory. Forexample, in some cases the container must be folded after the apparel isplaced inside in order that the baggace can be easily carried, theclothing being creased in the process. In other cases, with the garmentbag type of baggage, the containers are unwieldy and because of theirpliable nature will not protect the clothing when other luggage isplaced on top of the bag, such as usually happens in the baggagecompartments of trains or planes.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these disadvantagesof previously known types of personal baggage and to provide a piece ofhand luggage which is especially adapted for carrying garments such assuits, coats and dresses in unwrinkled condition, without sacrificingease of handling of the baggage.

It is another object to provide an improved baggage construction of thisnature which occupies a minimum of space in the travelers quartersduring stopping points, and which may be readily used as a wardrobe sothat the garments need not be unloaded or disturbed except as needed.

It is a further object to provide a piece of hand baggage of thischaracter in which means may readily be provided for carrying additionalapparel such as shirts, underwear or shoes without increasing the bull:of the overall container and without incurring any wrinkling or crushingof the larger garments.

It is also an object to provide an improved hand baggage item of theabove nature, which is extremely simple in construction, can bemanufactured of standard and inexpensive materials, and is sturdy enoughto withstand the rigors of transportation in all types of public andprivate vehicles while protecting the condition of the clothes beingcarried.

It is another object to provide an improved personal baggage article ofthis type which is readily adapted to be placed in the rear seatcompartment of an automotive vehicle in such a way as to be held snuglyin upright condition, thus being readily accessible for removal.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the subsequent description, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the novel and improved personalbaggage item of this invention, parts being broken away for clarity,showing the front of the containerin closed position and a portion ofthe frame;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the rear of the container withthe carrying handle;

Figure 3 is a front view of the container frame showing the roundedcorner configuration of the baggage;

Figure 4 is a side view of the frame showing the bracing construction;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper portion of Figure4 showing the details of the hanger bar construction; and

Figure 6 is a top view of the frame showing the position of the hangerbar.

The invention comprises a frame generally indicated at 11 and a coverindicated at 12 which is snugly fitted thereon. Frame 11 may beconstructed of any suitable material such as tubular steel, and consistsof two pairs of uprights 13, each pair being connected by top and bottommembers 14 and 15 respectively. Top members 14 slope upwardly from theirouter ends to their centers, while bottom members 15 are horizontal. Thecorners 16 between the uprights and members 14 and 15 are preferablyrounded, and in suitable instances each pair of uprights 13 togetherwith its connecting members may be formed by bending a single length oftubular metal into the required shape.

As seen in Figure 4, the two pairs of uprights 13 with their connectingmembers are held in spaced-apart position by three pairs of crossmembers 17, 18 and 19. These members are secured at their opposite endsto the uprights and are spaced apart vertically to form rigidconnections. Preferably, the lengths of these cross members increasefrom top to bottom, thus providing a slightly tapered frame constructionwith the base somewhat wider than the top. This construction may befound most suitable since the lower portions of suits and dressesusually have greater bulk than the upper portions. The downwardly flaredconstruction may also be found to provide greater stability when thebaggage is resting on the floor. An additional horizontal frame member21 may also be provided in the same plane as intermediate cross members18 at the rear of the container to further strengthen the frame.

Although the exact dimensions of frame 11 are not critical, for purposesof the invention it is preferable that the height H and width W of theframe be sufficient to accommodate a suit of clothes in hangingcondition without folding or bunching of the material. For example, asatisfactory height H for the frame has been found to be 37", while awidth W of 22" has also been found suitable. It should be understoodhowever that these figures are merely illustrative and that otherappropriate dimensions are contemplated within the principles of theinvention. The depths D and D of the top a nd bottom of the framerespectively are likewise preferablysufficient to accommodate therequired number of garments. One suitable set of dimensions has beenfound to be a top depth D of 4 and a bottomdepth D of 7". J

Means are provided for supporting clothes hangers at the top of frame11, this means comprising a hanger 'bar 22 secured between. the centralportions of upper members 14. As seen :in Figure 5, the main portion ofbar 22 is below the level of the extreme top of frame 11 so Ethat thehanger hooks may be accommodated and restrained between bar 22 and the'cover material.

Cover 12 may be fabricated'ofany'suitablematerial such as rubberizedcloth or canvas, and is'so constructed as to fit snugly and in tautposition over frame 11. I For this purpose :the cover may be sewn inplace after' frame 11 hasbeen assembled, or may be secured thereto, orboth. Alternatively, cover 12 may be removably mounted onthe frame sothat it may be separately cleaned.

When in position, cover '12 entirely encloses frame 11 leaving noexposed metal parts. The cover has a front panel 23,'a rear panel 24,side panels 25 and top and bottom panels 26 and 27 respectively when inassembled position. Buttons or other wear members (not shown) may beprovided on bottom panel 27, since the luggage will normally stand inupright position.

Front panel 23 is provided with an access covered by a flap 28 forloading and unloading purposes.

'As shown in Figure l, flap 28 is contiguous along its lower edge withfront panel 23 and may be constructed of the same material as theremainder of cover 12. The flap'occupies the major portion of frontpanel 23, being securable to the panel by a slide fastener 29 ofinverted U-shaped, or similar fastening means. When opened, flap 28uncovers an opening affording full access to the interior of thebaggage. A second slide fastener 30 is shown dividing bottom panel 27and the lower portions of'side panels 25, to facilitate removal of cover12 for cleaning purposes.

Mounted on rear panel 24 is a carrying handle 31 by means of which thecase may be lifted and carried. Handle 31 may be secured to rear panel24 by any appropriate means, or may be attached 'if desired directly toreinforcing bar 21. The position of handle 31 relative to the top of thecontainer is such that when grasped and lifted, bottom panel 27. will beraised from the ground a sufficient distance to enable the carrier towalk comfortably while his engaged arm remains dow nwardly extended.'Although'it is realized that to attain maximum comfort the height 'ofhandle 31 could vary with individuals of different heights, the handleposition is preferably so'chosen as to permit the bag to be carriedeasily by persons of shorter stature while not detracting from thecarrying convenience for taller persons.

Figures 3 and .4 illustrate the manner in which suits and dresses may beenclosed within the novel baggage case without being'folded or wrinkled.Figure 3 shows the position of a mans suit within the confines of frame11. It will be seen that the suit coat 32 and the trousers 33 are drapedon .a hanger 34 in the usual manner and hang freely within the framewithout being folded or creased in any way. The spacing between the suitcoat and the sides and bottom of the frame will ofcourse vary with theclothing size, and in some instances it may be desirable to use a hanger34 having a book 35 with opening 7 which may be hung side by side in thecontainer will .of course depend on its depth relative to the bulktofmaterial; If the garments do not occupy the entire depth of the case,and it is expected that. the baggage will be tilted or upended duringthe journey (for example, when it is to be checked on' a train orplane), means may be provided for restraining :the garments frommovement. In the illustrated embodiment, this means takes the form oftwo pairs ofstraps 38 and 39 attached to the frame or cover inside "the'case. These straps, which are located at intermediate and lower por-'tions of the container, will serve to maintain the gar 1 ments in theirextended position regardless of the method The baggage piece of-thisinvention is sturdy enough.

to withstand the rough handling common in public transportation, withframe 11 and;cov er 12 cooperating to' provide resilient butfirmprotection "for the contents.

The case is especially adapted for loading into the rear seatcompartment of an automotive vehicle duringtravel:

ingQ Because of the taperedconfiguration of the'fcon;

tainer, it will'fit snugly between the backof the front seat and thefront of the rear seat of an automobile, rese ing on' the floor andoccupying a minimum of space.

From this position it may be readily removed when'the traveler arrivesat his destination.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodi ment of theinvention disclosed is wellcalculatedfio fulfill the objects abovestated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible tomodification, vari% ation and-change without departing from thefproperscope or fair meaning of the 'subjoined claimsj a What is claimed is:: a1 1 l. Ina piece of hand baggage, a frame comprising two pairs of spacedupright members which form the frame edges, top and bottom members'connecting each pair of upright members, a plurality of cross memberscon necting said' pairs of upright members to form a rigid frame, a barextending between said top members adapted to support a clothes hanger,the height, width and depth of said frame being sufficient toaccommodate a suit of clothes draped on such hanger, a cover or"pliablema terial secured over said frame to form abase, front and rearpanels extending upwardly from said base, "and side and top panelsextending between said front and,

rear panels, an access opening in said front panel, a flap for saidaccess opening, the disposition of said opening 7 beingsuch that saidcover will be securely retained on said frame when said flap is open,and a carrying handle a relatively short shank, so that the hanger iscloser to the top of the frame.

Similarly a ladys dress 35 may be'draped on a hanger and suspended fromhanger bar 22. In the case of a dress, the lower portion 37 may bepinned up .as shown in Figure 4 so as not to engage the bottom of thecontainer. It will be noticed, however, that as .in the case of thesuit, dress 36 hangs freely and without pressure being exerted onanyportion of the material, so that wrinkles will ,bejavoided. The numberof garments secured to saicl rear panel and spaced a sufiicient distancebelow. said top panel to permit convenient lifting and carrying of thepiece of baggage. r

2. ha piece of hand baggage, a frame, saidfraine having twosides, eachside being formed of a length of tubular metal" and being ofgenerallyrectangular shape with a pair of upright p'ortionsand top and bottom members connecting said upright portions, a plurality of cross.

members connecting said two lengths of tubular. metal, a bar securedbetween said top members and adapted to support a clothes hanger, theheight, width and depth oflsaidi' frame being sufli-cient to accommodate.a' garment such as a' suit draped on such hanger, a cover of pliable"material secured oversaid frame, said cover having a ba'se,'front andrear panels, and side and top panels con necting said front and rearpanels, an access opening in said front panel, a flap for said opening,the lower edge of said flap being contiguous with said front panel andmovable between a closed position and an open position extending fromsaid front panel, the disposition of said opening being such that saidcover Will be securely retained on said frame when said flap is open,and a carrying handle secured to said rear panel a sulficient distancebelow said top panel to enable convenient lifting and carrying of thepiece of baggage.

3. The combination according to claim 2, the lengths of said crossmembers being such that said bottom frame members are spaced apart agreater distance than said top frame members, whereby said base is oflarger area than said top panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,016,520 Short Oct. 8, 1935 2,086,895 Cart July 13, 1937 2,163,116Derman June 20, 1939 2,684,135 Cart July 20, 1954 2,755,896 Breglia July24, 1956 2,806,563 Einhorn Sept. 17, 1957

